Ski clamp



Jan. 30, 1968 J. E. BARSELL 3,366,297

SKI CLAMP Filed May 31, 1966 59 v 1 V J Z0 45 TIG. 1 a m. 2 ave. 3 4421M4414Z ml 57 /Z 4. 5 fl-IG 7 /25 A2 r I Z I F d; y 35 INVENTOR' JOHN E. BARSELL ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,366,297 SKI CLAMP John E. Barsell, 745 Casita Way, Los Altos, Calif. 94022 Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No. 554,090 11 Claims. (Cl. 22445) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention resides in a ski clamp member assembly which can be secured to one ski for clamping two skiis together, with the ski clamp having resilient means pulling it towards its housing. The pressure of the resilient means is variable by an adjustable stop means. The structure design of the ski clamp member assembly can easily be altered to provide means for receiving a carrying bar which can also be utilized with a carrying handle for permitting increased ease of transporting the skiis to and from the ski areas.

This invention relates broadly to a ski clamping device, and in its more specific embodiment to a spring loaded clamp assembly mounted on a ski member.

In the last few years the activities of recreational sports have substantially increased. This activity increase has taken the form of a large number of participants and participants being more active in these various areas. Also, the location of these activities require greater distances of travel in many cases. The travel can be done in almost any mode of transportation available as a means of getting the participants to areas which they wish to partake of their sports activities.

One specific area of sporting activity which has been a favorite for years is skiing. In the last few years the activity in this sports area has increased enormously by various groups. Many of the participants are not perfectionists in skiing, but only wish to participate for the fun and satisfaction which they derive on a very non-competitive basis. Many persons have purchased skis and have spent considerable sums of money on equipment, maintenance and participating costs. One of the areas which has drawn much attention is the clamping of skis together for transportation and storage, both short and long-term storage included.

Another major area which has increased in activity is water skiing. Many of the same problems exist in water skiing as exist in snow skiing as far as ski storage and transporting are concerned. The desirability to clamp the sins together for transportation until a water site is arrived at, andalso to clamp the skis together while boating, both to and from ski areas and between skiing activities.

Many attempts have been made to provide clamping means for skis in the past. One of the problems is that the ski clamping devices are hard to carry with a skier for use at various opportune times. Also, many times they require considerable strength and positioning to utilize and most have proved quite bulky for transportation from one area to another when not in use.

It was with these problems and others in mind which led to the development of the present invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ski clamping assembly which can easily be positioned and moved into clamping action.

Another object is to provide a ski clamp assembly which is permanently secured to a ski member and can be easily snapped into clamping position without accessory snapping buckles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ski clamping assembly which can be temporarily secured to a ski member and easily moved to clamping tice action for securing two ski members in a carrying position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski clamp assembly having a spring loaded clamp member which can clamp two skis together as a unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski clamp assembly having ski clamps which can be easily positioned in a clamping location providing means to support ski poles during temporarily stacking of the members.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a ski clamping assembly which can easily be snapped on the ski members holding the skis in a predetermined position.

Also, an object of the present invention includes the provision of a clamp assembly capable of accomplishing the above objectives with a minimum of material cost and manufacturing expenses and at the same time being composed of a simple and ruggedly formed structure which will be reliable in application. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the instant specification and which is to be read in conjunction therewith and like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in various use.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a partial plan view illustrating the bottom portion of a ski and carrying assembly having the principle of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan View illustrating the top portion of the ski and carrying assembly having the principles of the present invention and showing a carrying handle assembly in phantom.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the ski and carrying assembly illustrating the principles of the invention as shown in FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a typical ski clamp assembly taken along line IV-IV of FIGURE 2, illustrating the principles of the present invention while it is in its clamping action.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional top plan view of a ski clamp assembly shown in FIGURE 4 in the un-clamped position illustrating the working parts of the clamping assembly.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines VI-VI of FIGURE 5 illustrating an embodiment for securing a ski clamp assembly housing to a ski member.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view showing an alternate embodiment for securing a ski clamp assembly housing to a ski member.

Generally referring to FIGURES 1 through 3, a ski and carrying assembly 16 is illustrated and is comprised of ski members 11 and 12. Ski members 11 and 12 are clamped together by their bottom surfaces in the normal position well known in this art. Ski clamp assembly 14 is provided at the upper part of the ski and carrying assembly 10 and ski clamp assembly 16 is secured near the bottom portion of the ski and carrying assembly 10.

Referring generally to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the function of the ski clamp assemblies 14 and 16 will be discussed in detail. For this particular illustration we will be discussing ski clamp assembly 16; however, it should be remembered that ski clamp assemblies 16 and 14 are identical and can be interchanged with one another. Ski clamp assembly 16 has a housing 20 and is held to the ski member 12 by securing means 21. The securing means 21 includes securing flanges 22 and 23, Securing bolts 24 pass through the bottom of ski member 12 and have their head members lodged in counter-sunk holes 25. Securing bolts 24 pass through the ski member 12 and through the securing flanges 2 and 23. They have threaded ends which are acted upon by securing nuts 26 which hold the housing 2%) to the ski member 12. Housing 20 is provided with stop member holes 28 and 29 as viewed in FIGURE 5. These holes extend laterally across the housing 29 and the upper face of ski member 12. The stop member holes do not extend completely across the housing member 20 but terminate into shaft holes 32 and 33, respectively. Stop member hole 23 and shaft hole 32 house clamp member 35. Clamp member 35 has a shaft 36 with a threaded end 37 at one end and an end arm 38 at the other end. End arm 38 is provided with a finger hook 39. The shaft 36 passes through shaft hole 32 and into stop member hole 28. A compression spring 41 is positioned around shaft 36 and acts on the end of stop member hole 28 and against a stop member 42 which is positioned on threaded end 37. The compression spring 41 normally acts on stop member 42 moving shaft 36 into stop member hole 23 until the end arm 38 acts on housing 26. This is the un-clamped position and it is illustrated in FIGURE 5. When the ski members 11 and 12 are to be clamped in ski and carrying assembly position, the user will grab a hold of end arm 3t; pulling shaft 36 out through shaft hole 32 compressing compression spring 41 until the end arm 38 is out past the outer edge of ski members 11 and 12 to permit finger hook 381 to be turned into clamping position. Then, end arm 38 is rotated to a position perpendicular across the ski members 11 and 12 and the shaft 36 is then released so that the compression spring 41 can move the end arm 38 and the finger hook 3) into position as illustrated in FIG- URE 4. The same procedure will be followed for moving the other clamp member of ski clamp assembly into clamping position.

The securing steps just discussed in reference to ski clamp assembly 16 will also be followed in positioning ski clamp assembly 14 in position. In the present illustration the tension of compression spring 41 can be increased by turning stop member 42 relative to the threaded end 37 in one direction moving it along shaft 36 towards end arm 38. The tension of spring 41 can also be reduced by turning stop member 42 in the opposite direction away from end arm 38. In some applications the stop member 42 may be positioned on shaft 36 in a nonadjustable manner. An example of non-adjustable mounting would be to not have a threaded end 37 and merely turn the end of shaft 36, thus holding stop member 4-2 in a predetermined position.

Referring generally to FIGURE 7, housing is shown with an alternate embodiment having a securing means 121. This illustration shows a mat member 124 being secured to the bottom of housing member 2% in various manners well known in the art, for example, adhesives, screw members, et cetera. The mat member 124 has an extensive series of small suction cups 125 which act on the upper surface of ski 12 and which hold a ski clamp assembly such as 14 or 16 in position on a ski member. The remaining portion of the ski clamp assembly would function as explained above. This type of securing arrangement would have particular utility in the water ski field when more moderate or warmer temperatures would be experienced. In some applications no securing means at all would be necessary between the housing 20 and the ski members other than the clampin action of the clamp members such as clamp member 35.

Referring generally to FIGURES 2 and 5, an alternate embodiment of the present invention could have a fastening or holding loop 45 as part of an end arm. One of the functions of this holding loop 45 is to permit a skier to put his ski pole straps in the loop while temporarily storing his ski members in outside racks, et cetera, preventing them from falling and being confused with other skiers equipment. Another function of the fastening loops 45 is to receive and secure the ends of a carrying bar 46, illustrated in phantom in FIGURE 2, which has a handle member 4'7 mounted substantially at its mid portion. The carrying bar 46 and handle member 47 could be secured to the fastening loops of ski clamp assemblies 14 and 16,

in various manners well known in the art, and used for conveniently carrying the ski and carrying assembly 10.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described and several alternate embodiments discussed, it should be understood that minor modifications may be made in the clamp assembly structure within the spirit and scope of the invention as herein defined and illustrated. It is further to be noted that while directional terms have been used, same are not to be construed as a limitation of the invention since such use has been availed of only to better describe the invention as illustrated.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the article and combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A ski clamp member assembly, comprising, in combination:

(a) a housing member,

(b) a pair of hole members extending into said housing member from opposite sides,

(c) shaft holes extending from the ends of said hole members through said housing member,

(d) clamp members positioned in said shaft holes,

(e) resilient means tending to move said clamp members into said hole members,

(f) clamp means on the end of said clamp members outside said housing member,

(g) each of said clamp members including a shaft and an end arm,

(h) said end arm and said shaft connected at one of their ends,

(i) said end arm with a finger hook at the other end,

(j) a stop member connected to the other end of said shaft and positioned in said hole member,

(It) said resilient means acting between the end of said hole member and said stop member,

(1) said stop member is adjustably positioned on said shaft end,

(m) a ski member, and

(n) a securing means holding said housing member in a fixed position with said ski member.

2. A ski clamp member assembly, comprising, in combination:

(a) a housing member,

(b) a pair of hole members extending into said housing member from opposite sides,

(c) shaft holes extending from the ends of said hole members through said housing member,

(d) clamp members positioned in said shaft holes,

(e) resilient means tending to move said clamp members into said hole members,

(f) clamp means on the end of said clamp members outside said housing member,

(g) each of said clamp members including a shaft and an end arm,

(h) said end arm and said shaft connected at one of their ends,

(i) said end arm with a finger hook at the other end,

(j) a stop member connected to the other end of said shaft and positioned in said hole member,

(k) said resilient means acting between the end of said hole member and said stop member,

(1) said stop member is adjustably positioned on said shaft end,

(m) a fastening loop on at least one of said end arms,

(n) a ski member,

(0) a securing means holding said housing member in a substantially fixed position with said ski member near its top portion, and

(p) a second ski clamp member assembly positioned on said ski member near its bottom portion.

3. A ski clamp member assembly as defined in claim 2, having:

(a) securing bolts passing through the ski member positively securing said ski clamp member assemblies to said ski member.

4. A ski clamp member assembly as defined in claim 2,

having:

(a) a mat member having at least one suction cup secured to the bottom of said housing member, and

(b) said suction cup holds said housing member in position on said ski member.

5. A ski clamp member assembly as defined in claim 2,

wherein:

(a) said first and second ski clamp member assemblies have fastening loops on the same side of said ski member, and

(b) a carrying bar is secured to and extending between said fastening loops.

6. A ski clamp member assembly as defined in claim 5,

wherein:

(a) a handle member is provided on said carrying bar.

7. A ski clamp member assembly, comprising, in combination:

(a) a housing member,

(b) a pair of hole members extending into said housing member from opposite sides,

(c) shaft holes extending from the ends of said hole members through said housing member,

(d) clamp members positioned in said shaft holes,

(e) resilient means tending to move said clamp members into said hole members,

(f) clamp means on the end of said clamp members outside said housing member,

(g) each of said clamp members including a shaft and an end arm,

(h) said end arm and said shaft connected at one of their ends,

(i) said end arm with a finger hook at the other end,

(j) a stop member connected to the other end of said shaft and positioned in said hole member,

(k) said resilient means acting between the end of said hole member and said stop member,

(1) a ski member, and

(m) a securing means holding said housing member in a fixed position with said ski member.

8. A ski clamp member assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said securing means holds said housing member in a substantially fixed position with said ski member near its top portion,

(b) a second ski clamp member assembly is positioned on said ski member near its bottom portion, and (c) securing bolts passing through the ski member positively secure said ski clamp member assemblies to said ski member.

9. A ski clamp member assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said securing means holds said housing member in a substantially fixed position with said ski member near its top portion,

(b) a second ski clamp member assembly is positioned on said ski member near its bottom portion,

(0) fastening loops are located on the same side as said first and second ski clamp member assemblies as part of said end arms, and

(d) a carrying bar is secured to and extending between said fastening loops.

10. A ski clamp member assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein:

(a) a ski handle member is provided on said carrying bar.

11. A ski clamp member assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein:

(a) a mat member having at least one suction cup is secured to the bottom of said ski clamp member assemblies, and

(b) said suction cup holds said ski clamp member assemblies in position on said ski member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,562,178 7/1951 Djos 280-1l.37 2,789,858 4/1957 Kughler 29481 3,049,774 8/1962 Rhodes et al. 24263 X 3,169,789 2/1965 Cohn 294103 X 3,260,430 7/ 1966 Sandenburg 224-45 3,307,724 3/1967 Miller 214-620 X FOREIGN PATENTS 329,763 6/ 1958 Switzerland. 366,464 2/ 1963 Switzerland.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

R. I. SPAR, Assistant Examiner. 

